Crillon-les-Brave

[Freckles]

SO excited! Got a reservation at Crillon-le-Brave Hotel late in July. Supposed to be fabulous. Any thoughts on what Mr. and I should see, eat, do or drink whilst there?

Merci!

[cigalechanta]

That's a beautiful location and have stayed there several times since they first opened. The menu changes so can't advise you but the newer pub is less expensive. The views are awesome from under the fig tree in a corner where I always had my pastis. The dining terrace is very romantic at night. The swimming pool is on another lower level. There are several buildings that you may choose to stay in. Hope to go back one year when finances improve.

[JudyB]

The dining terrace is very romantic at night.

I'd second that - we saw a very impressive moonrise one evening when we ate on the terrace.

As for other restaurants, it depends how far you want to travel.

We have had several nice meals at the Maison Saffron in Bedoin which is nearby - I think that Duncan wrote this up, plus a few other nearby places in the "Northern Provence" thread.

Edit: Have a look at the Provence thread which discusses some restaurants near Isle sur la Sorgue (and round about the area you're going to) and the Northern Provence thread which discusses Bedoin and several nearby places that are worth considering.

Edited June 30, 2005 by JudyB (log)

[Freckles]

Great, thanks!

For you readers who don't know what I'm talking about... here is the site for the hotel: http://www.crillonlebrave.com/

[Freckles]

And any sights/ vinyards that are nearby (I 've already seen many Chateauneuf du Pape!) and you'd recommend?

[Jonathan Day]

Crillon-le-Brave is right on the edge of the Mont Ventoux, so you'll find lots of producers of cote de Ventoux nearby. We visited when the place first opened; I remember a very pleasant day driving from one vineyard to another, tasting, buying...

[Duncan]

And any sights/ vinyards that are nearby (I 've already seen many Chateauneuf du Pape!)  and you'd recommend?

←

The obvious sight is to go up Mount Ventoux. Cycling up it is not obligatory , you can drive instead (or even walk, ride a horse, paraglide down, ...), it is best to go early morning as it can get quite hazy later in the day. The Nesque gorge is also nearby (combine it with a visit to Sault: the Lavender should be in bloom about then).

Otherwise for sights just list all the towns within whatever radius you want to travel: Orange, Vaison, Avignon, Isle sur Sorgue, ... and don't forget to visit some of the local markets (even if you don't want to visit a market, make sure you know when market day is in any village/town you intend to go through). There are some good suggestions on the hotel's website.

There are plenty vineyards around, Chateau Pesquier (nr. Mormoiron) produces some of the better Ventoux wines, and in the opposite direction you have Beaumes de Venise, Vacqueyras, Gigondas etc. which makes for a nice tour round the Dentelles.

Other less known sites which spring to mind: there is an interesting mechanical music museum which used to be in Crillon, but now I believe it is in Malaucene. The last few summers there has been a maize maze near Bedoin (if you like that sort of thing - we do).